Welcome to the Reception
Rainbow Page
Welcome
Hello Reception Friends
At last we have had the fantastic news that all our children can return to their Reception classrooms – hooray!
All the Reception Staff are eager to see our children again and we have been busy getting everything ready.
Our Reception times from Monday 8th March are 8.50 am – 3.10pm
We will place a box outside the classrooms, so you can bring the work your child has done at home, to show us.
Please place any sandwich boxes brought from home in the box outside the Reception doors (staff will show you).
We will be available to talk to you daily, at the Reception doors, with social distancing. However, if you need a longer chat then please contact the Reception Staff , either by phoning the School, or emailing the early years email address.
All the Reception Staff are looking forward to seeing you at School 😊.
Mrs. Cartwright-Fretwell, Mrs Wilkinson, Mrs Bower, Mrs Bonser and Mrs Walton 💕
Second Half Spring Term
This is our plan for the next 6 weeks
Phonics and Reading
- It is important that you keep learning the phase 2 and 3 ‘Tricky Words’ – the to I no go into he she we me be was my you they her all.
- We are now learning digraphs. This is when two letters are joined together to make one sound sh ch th ng ai ee oa oo ar or ur ow oi er
- We are also going to learn some trigraphs. This is when three letters are joined together to make one sound igh ear air ure
- Our children are now becoming more confident at blending words. Grown-ups, please help your child to blend the words when they are reading
Developing Pencil Control and Writing
At this time of the School year, it is important that our Reception children are now writing their first name independently and are learning to write words such as dog, cat, bed, mat etc. and some ‘tricky words’.
We also want those children who are ready to write simple sentences e.g. The cat and the dog help the man.
It is important that our children are encouraged to say what they want to write and have a go. It doesn’t matter if all the words in a sentence are not spelt correctly, as the children need to practice using the phonic sounds they are learning in words and sentences e.g. I like to jump on the trampoline might be written I lik to jup on the trapoleen.
Maths
This half term we will continue to use the White Rose Maths mathematical scheme with our children.
Home Learning
In Reception we provide packs of work linked to our topics, in addition to the activities we provide on our Reception webpage. This supports our Parents and Carers to help their children make progress with their writing, phonics, maths and creative skills.
We also provide links to some excellent sites, recommended for Reception children.
Grown-ups, thank you for your hard work and support.
Week Beginning 01.03.21
Home Learning
Jack and the Beanstalk
Hello Reception friends
This week we are continuing to learn about how plants grow and our main story is Jack and the Beanstalk.
If you haven’t finished your work on The Enormous Turnip, then carry on this week 😊
On Thursday 4th March, it is World Book Day. We know that you all enjoy listening to stories and the Reception Staff will share some extra stories with you. We will also suggest some fun ideas for this special day!
At the end of the first two weeks, we want the children to be able to talk about how plants grow and what a plant needs to grow.
Keep working hard Reception friends ❤
Every day click on:
1 phonics lesson
1 literacy lesson
1 maths lesson
Have fun choosing a ‘Wake up your body’ and a ‘Song of the week’
Choose an activity in your pack to do with your grown-up
Let’s start the day by singing our morning songs!
What is the weather today?
The days of the week
Our Story of the Week
Jack and the Beanstalk
When you have listened to the story you can:
Talk about which characters are in the story
Discuss what happened when Jack threw the magic beans out of the window
Talk about what the giant said when he could smell Jack was in the castle
Act out the story by pretending you are Jack:
- Taking the cow to market and getting the 5 magic beans
- Waking up and seeing the giant beanstalk
- Climbing up the beanstalk and hiding from the giant
- Taking the bag of gold, the hen that laid golden eggs and the golden harp down the beanstalk
- Chopping down the beanstalk
Phonics
The DFE has put some Phonics lessons on You Tube, which can be shared at home. The lessons will help your child to read letters and begin to blend, so they are able to read words.
Remember Reception friends, digraphs are two letters that make one sound. Find a pen and paper and have a go at writing some of the words in your daily phonics video.
This week we will reinforce ai ee igh oa and introduce oo ar or
Try really hard reading the words and sentences.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Click on the new link to the BBC Bitesize Phase 3 phonics. These short clips will reinforce the Phase 3 digraphs and trigraphs.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zvq9bdm
Read and write some ‘tricky words’ with
Mrs Wilkinson
Oak National Academy
Literacy Lessons
This week, we have put a link every day to the Department for Education funded online classroom.
The lessons are all based on the story The Giant Turnip and follow on from our work last week
Monday lesson 6: To write a caption to show action in a story
In this lesson, we will write labels and captions to show action in the story.
https://classroom.thenational.academy/units/the-giant-turnip-79c6
Tuesday lesson 7: To box up a story to show what happens
In this lesson, we will create a box plan for our story focusing on the action and what is happening.
Wednesday lesson 8: To write a story to show action (Part 1)
In this lesson, we will write a story showing clear action.
Thursday lesson 9: To write a story to show action (Part 2)
In this lesson, we will continue writing our story showing clear action.
Friday lesson 10: To write a story to show action (Part 3)
In this lesson, we will finish writing our story showing clear action.
Maths
White Rose Maths
At School we use White Rose Maths, when we plan our Magic Maths lessons.
Click on the White Rose Maths Logo below so that your child can have a daily MATHS lesson. This is REALLY important so your child doesn’t miss any steps in their learning.
This week click on Building 9 & 10 – Week 1 and your child can watch the Miss Cooper deliver 5 fantastic lessons. Click on the video for each day.
The focus this week is: Representing and sorting 9 and 10, Ordering numerals to 10 and composition of 9 and 10.
BBC Bitesize Maths – BBC Teach Maths
To help reinforce the numbers 1-10, join Rodd, who uses rhymes and songs to make learning fun!
Click on the link below
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/maths-ks1-counting-with-rodd/zmdk6v4
Numberblocks
At School we also use the Numberblocks on CBeebies Iplayer to teach the children about number.
Follow the link below for some more Numberblock episodes. Look at Series 2
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08pgqt4/numberblocks-series-2-seven
Home Challenges
In your third pack, there are a variety of Maths challenges for you to do with your grown-up. Take a picture when you have finished a Maths challenge and email it to our Early Years email address. We will print them out and stick them in your Special Book at School.
If you have some boxes at home, can you make the giant’s castle? You might prefer to use the boxes to make the giant. Take a picture when you have finished and email it to our Early Years email address. We will print them out and stick them in your Special Book at School.
Free eBook library from Oxford Owl
Click on the link below to register and use the reading books from Oxford Owl
World Book Day Thursday 4th March
On Thursday it is World Book Day. Even though we cannot all be together, we can still have fun!
Who are you? Who are you? Whose that behind the mask?
Look and listen to the stories read by Mrs Cartwright, Mrs Wilkinson, Mrs Bower and Mrs Bonser. We are all wearing masks. Can you decide with your grown-up who is reading:
Dinosaur Roar
Hurray For Fish!
Supertato!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Below are some ideas which we can do at School or at home:
- Dress-up as your favourite character in a book or ask your grown-up if you can stay in your PJ’s all day
- Choose your favourite story and share it with your grown-up
- Paint or draw a picture of your favourite story
- Enjoy a mug of hot chocolate, whilst your grown-up reads you a story
- Choose a story from CBeebies bedtime stories
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b00jdlm2/cbeebies-bedtime-stories
Storytime with the Reception Staff!
Wake up your body!
Enjoy waking up your body together. We enjoy these times in School!
New!
Song of the week
Enjoy singing our Reception songs together.
New!
Week Beginning 22.02.21
Home Learning
The Enormous Turnip
The sign of the week
Our Story of the Week
The Enormous Turnip
When you have listened to the story you can:
- Talk about which characters are in the story
- Discuss how the turnip grew from a small seed to an enormous turnip
- Talk about what the turnip seed needed to grow
- Act out the story by pretending you are pulling the turnip
Phonics
The DFE has put some Phonics lessons on You Tube, which can be shared at home. The lessons will help your child to read letters and begin to blend, so they are able to read words.
Remember Reception friends, digraphs are two letters that make one sound. Find a pen and paper and have a go at writing some of the words in your daily phonics video.
This week we will introduce ai ee igh oa
Try really hard reading the words and sentences.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Oak National Academy
Literacy Lessons
This week, we have put a link every day to the Department for Education funded online classroom.
The lessons are all based on the story The Giant Turnip.
Monday lesson 1: To listen and join in with a story
In our first lesson of this unit, we will listen to and join in with the story of ‘The Giant Turnip’.
https://classroom.thenational.academy/units/the-giant-turnip-79c6
Tuesday lesson 2: To map and speak the story
In this lesson, we will create a story map for the story and use it to retell the key events.
https://classroom.thenational.academy/units/the-giant-turnip-79c6
Wednesday lesson 3: To step and speak the story
In this lesson, we will recap the story, adding actions to help us remember key events.
https://classroom.thenational.academy/units/the-giant-turnip-79c6
Thursday lesson 4: To dance a story
In this lesson, we will use dance to help us deepen our understanding of the story.
https://classroom.thenational.academy/units/the-giant-turnip-79c6
Friday lesson 5: To role play action in a story
In this lesson, we are going to go into role as the characters to show action in the story.
https://classroom.thenational.academy/units/the-giant-turnip-79c6
Maths
White Rose Maths
At School we use White Rose Maths, when we plan our Magic Maths lessons.
Click on the White Rose Maths Logo below so that your child can have a daily MATHS lesson. This is REALLY important so your child doesn’t miss any steps in their learning.
This week click on Growing 6,7,8 – Week 3 and your child can watch the Miss Cooper deliver 5 fantastic lessons. Click on the video for each day.
The focus this week is: Comparing Height – Taller and Shorter
Home Challenge
We have set 2 challenges this week, which link with our Maths lessons
Challenge 1
Listen to the story of Jasper’s Beanstalk
With the help of your adult, put the days of the week in the correct order. Sing our song to help you: Monday Tuesday etc.
This week, draw a picture of something you do on each day.
Challenge 2
What is my child learning in the Reception Class and how can I help them at home?
We firmly believe at our School, that teaching your children is a partnership between Home and School.
At School
In our Reception Class, the children learn through planned taught sessions, where they sit and learn in large and small groups. Letters and Sounds, Magic Maths, Daily Writing, Small Group Reading and Topic Work are all taught in this way.
We also believe that the children need time to learn through exploring and engaging in activities which interest them. Our daily ‘Busy Time’ provides activities which are planned by the FS Staff and activities which the children have chosen. Deep learning takes place when the children play and explore, they have opportunities for active learning and the activities encourage them to problem solve.
At Home
On our Reception Webpage, we will provide activities which you can do at home.
We have provided an overview of the areas of learning and we will also put on work linked to our half termly topics.
The themes for the Spring First Half Term were ‘Down on the farm!’ and ‘The Chinese New Year’
We have taught the children to use their words to:
- Talk about which animals live on a farm.
- Name the areas where the animals live e.g. a pig lives in a sty.
- Say the correct name of baby animals: foal, kid, piglet, chick, lamb, calf, duckling, puppy, kitten.
- Talk about which animals provide milk, eggs and wool.
We have also taught the children about The Chinese New Year and how it is celebrated
The themes for the Autumn Second Half Term were Bonfire Night, Autumn, Remembrance Day, Diwali, Toys, Winter and Christmas
We have taught the children to use their words to:
- Describe what happens to trees in Autumn
- Talk about some of the animals which hibernate and what hibernation mean
We have also taught the children about Diwali and how it is celebrated
We have provided a variety of stories for you to watch together and then suggested some things you can talk about:
- Who is in the story? (the characters)
- What happens at the beginning, middle and end of the story? (It is really important that we talk about where these sections are in the stories).
The children have learnt why we celebrate Christmas and how it is celebrated
The themes for the Autumn First Half Term were Ourselves and Our Senses
We have taught the children to:
Name and point to the main areas of their bodies: head, eyes, nose, ears, mouth, cheeks, neck, shoulders, arms, elbows, hands, fingers, legs, knees, feet and ankles
We have also taught the children about the five senses:
Sight
Smell & Taste
Hearing
Touch
Stories
We have enjoyed the story Peace at Last and have spoken about the sounds Mr Bear heard in the night, when he could not get to sleep. Can you remember them? Listen to the story again together.
Little Red Riding Hood
When Little Red Riding Hood arrives at Grandma’s house, she notices that Grandma doesn’t look her usual self! Help your child to join in with Little Red Riding Hood as she talks to the Wolf, dressed as Grandma! ‘Oh Grandma, what big ears you have!’
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
These are the ‘Golden Rules’ we have taught our children:
Kind hands for sharing (friends)
Walking feet (inside)
Quiet voices (inside)
Listening ears
Communication and Language
Over the next few weeks as we introduce the new themes and stories, it will really help your child, if you encourage them to talk about the topics and re-tell the stories using their own words.
Developing children’s vocabulary and helping them have the confidence to put their thoughts into words, is so important for Reception children.
Sharing songs together is great, because the children have fun and songs are fantastic for developing language!
The BBC have created a site which has great songs, which your children can sing along to! Click on the link below
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/nursery-rhymes-songs-index/zhwdgwx
Mrs Walton’s top tips
Hi, My name is Mrs Walton and I am one of the Speech and Language Teaching Assistants here at Abbey Hill. You may have seen me working throughout the Foundation Stage Unit. I specialise in supporting children with language and communnication difficulties, 1-1 or in a small group.
Working closely with Speech and Language Therapists, I have been fortunate to develop my skills over the years and I am now in a position to offer training to teaching staff to further help support children’s communication and language development.
If you need any advice or just a general chat regarding your child’s language and communication development, talk to a member of the FS Staff and they will let me know 😊.
Talking together
No matter how old I am one of the best ways to help my speech and language development is to have some quiet time with me so we can talk, look at books together or sing nursery rhymes. It is always best to make sure the T.V is switched off and there is little background noise.
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- I love singing nursery rhymes; this helps support my language development
- I love playing make-believe games and enjoy it the most when you join in too. Make a pretend cup of tea with me or help make dolly better.
- Now my language is developing, it’s ok if I stumble or make mistakes in my talking – sometimes I’m finding the right words to say. Give me lots of time to talk and try not to draw attention to my mistakes.
- When I am playing, try to extend my sentences so I can hear different words e.g I say “The man is in the car” you say “The man is driving the big red car”
- I enjoy playing games now and playing board games with me helps me to concentrate and learn how to take turns. Games like ‘Simon Says’ or ‘Musical Statues’ will help to develop my attention and listening skills.
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I enjoy sharing books with you – especially ones with rhymes. When you have told me a story, ask me if I can tell it back to you. This helps my language development and my understanding.
Physical Development
Physical exercise is so important for our children. Just like you, we want our children to be fit and healthy.
Every day we plan for activities in our outdoor classroom to develop their gross and fine motor skills.
These are some activities your children can do at home for extra fun!
Paint with water. Your child will love painting a fence, using a bucket filled with water and a large painting brush.
Blow some bubbles and watch them run! Children love chasing after bubbles and popping them and it also tires them out!
Make an assault course. Pretend to be a Pirate stepping over shark infested water and walking the plank. Children are so good at using their imaginations!
Washing our hands
For all of us, washing our hands regularly has become so important. At School we teach the children to wash their hands for 20 seconds by helping them count to 20, or by singing a favourite Nursery Rhyme e.g. ‘Twinkle. Twinkle, Little Star.
The song below, also teaches the children the importance of washing their hands and how to do it. Click on the link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDHJW4r3elE
In Reception, we also start teaching our children about food. They learn about eating fruit and vegetables, which help us grow big and strong. We also learn about the food which we can eat, but should eat a smaller amount of e.g. chocolate, sweets, crisps and biscuits.
The songs below are great for sharing with the children.
Literacy
Writing
It is really important that we help our children to hold their pencil correctly in the tripod grip, which we call ‘birdy fingers’ at School. Many children find it difficult to hold a pencil like this and so it is important grown-ups that we work together and help our children.
Supporting our children to write their name
Over the next few weeks, we are concentrating on helping our children to form the letters of their name.
We always teach the children to write a capital letter at the beginning of their name and then write small letters after:
Julie
We are also supporting the children to learn to write all the letters of the alphabet, linked to our Letters and Sounds lessons.
The children have the opportunity to write on large paper with felt tip pens, crayons and colour pencils, whiteboards with whiteboard pens and outside on the floor with chalks.
It is also important that our children have fun with writing patterns, as this helps with their letter formation.
Literacy
Reading
Helping our children to read
Learning to read is not easy and that is why it is so important for us to work together to teach our children.
Important!
On the menu bar on our School website, one of the sections is Reading and Phonics. Click on this link to see our Top Tips for Reading at Home with Younger children.
What will my child bring home in Reception?
- Every Friday your child will bring home a reading book, which must be returned every Monday
- The Letter Sounds we are teaching your children will be sent home for you to practice. We use the Jolly phonics actions and songs, to help the children remember the sounds.
- Some words cannot be sounded out. We teach the children that these are ‘Tricky words’. The children are learning the Phase 2 tricky words, before learning Phase 3.
Phonics Websites
Teach your Monster to Read
https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/
Mathematics
Number recognition is really important. At the end of Reception we aim for our children to name the numbers 0-20, when the numbers are shown one at a time.
In the Autumn and first half of the Spring Term, we help the children to be confident naming the numbers 0-10.
Counting objects is really important, so please, as I know you are already doing, count together in many different ways e.g. when you climb up steps, the number of plates you put out for dinner and how many jumps you can do in a minute. Even better, show your child the number after, so they understand how the action and the number link together.
At School we use the Number Blocks to help the children understand about numbers to 10 and later numbers to 20.
You can find the Number Blocks on CBeebies I Player to share with your children
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08cr24d/numberblocks-series-1-how-to-count
White Rose Maths
At School we use White Rose Maths, when we plan large and small group activities for your children.
Click on the link below to have a look at the activities 😊
https://whiterosemaths.com/homelearning/early-years/